‘This is a board issue’: Community member reacts as Newfields names new CEO – Indianapolis News | Indiana Weather | Indiana traffic

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Le Monte Booker will take over as president and CEO of Newfields in October, but one community member doesn’t think this leadership change will create change at Newfields.

Wildstyle Paschall, a community advocate, says he has many concerns about the facility.

“I’m happy for Mr Booker but I’m not optimistic about the situation at Newfields,” Paschall said. “I think this is not a one-man problem or a one-person problem. I think this is a problem with the leadership of the board.”

Newfields announced Booker’s new role Monday afternoon. Booker was chief financial officer for the Field Museum in Chicago for nearly nine years.

A statement from the museum said Booker “possesses the right mindset, temperament, skills and leadership skills required for this role.”

The release continued: “(Booker) stood out not only for meeting all of our original search criteria, but also for bringing new perspectives that we hadn’t previously considered to the process.”

The Booker selection comes after the museum faced national protests over racism.

In February 2021, former CEO Charles Venable resigned after a job posting at the museum sought someone who could diversify the institution but maintain its “traditional, core white art audience”.

His replacement, Collete Pierce Burnett, the first black woman to lead Newfields, was at the helm for 15 months but left under mysterious circumstances.

Museum officials have never fully explained what happened.

Her departure sparked protests in November 2023 over the lack of transparency and treatment of the institution’s first black female president and CEO.

News 8 first spoke with Paschall during a protest in November.

“(She) was making a real difference in Newfields, which I had never seen before,” Paschall said. “And for her to be summarily dismissed like that, it was really upsetting and I felt like it was a fight against progress in the city . What I want to hear is the truth one day from Newfields. I have no expectations.”

Paschall previously held a seat on the community board. He doesn’t anticipate a cultural change at Newfields even with the change in leadership.

In 2023, Paschall called for leadership, and on Monday he echoed it.

“I think that unless the board leadership eventually gives up after he gets here, I don’t think he has much of a chance to change anything there,” Paschall said.

Newfields leaders declined News 8’s request for an interview, but told us they expect to talk more about Booker’s vision for the museum as he gets closer to taking over.